Anthony Gose

Gose has earned big league paycheck in parts of three seasons because of his speed and defense, but he has been unable to solve big-league pitching. In 616 career plate appearances, he's struck out at...

Gose possesses the kind of speed that scouts dream about, but he seems to have lost his way at the plate. While he posted a respectable .259 batting average in 153 plate appearances with the Blue Jays last season, Gose was the not-so-proud owner of a 3.3% walk rate and 24.2% strikeout rate. He didn't fare much better following a demotion to Triple-A Buffalo and didn't have any success upon rejoining the Blue Jays late in the season. Ultimately, 2014 may be a make-or-break year for the former top prospect, but he may be forced to open the season as a fourth outfielder if the Jays elect to place him on their Opening Day roster.

2013

Gose became one of many prospects in the Blue Jays organization to make their debut when Jose Bautista went on the DL in mid-June. While his walk rate was solid (9.0 percent), he had trouble making contact, striking out in 31.2 percent of his at-bats. Gose is similar to teammate Rajai Davis, offering elite speed and little power, but the addition of Melky Cabrera may push Gose back to the minors for the start of the season depending on the other moves the Jays make before the start of the season.

2012

Gose is slowly, but steadily, turning his vast athletic skills into something usable on a baseball field. He escaped the pitcher-friendly Florida State League and had a breakout season at Double-A New Hampshire with 16 homers and 70 stolen bases to go along with 62 walks in 587 plate appearances. He still strikes out way too often (154 times last year) but he's slowly developing a better approach at the plate and it's beginning to bear fruit. He's light years ahead of where he was at this time a year ago and figures to take another step forward in 2012.

2011

Gose came to the Toronto organization in a midseason trade for Brett Wallace last year, and while he's still more athlete than ballplayer at this point he has plenty of time to develop. He showed better, albeit still limited, power in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, notching seven homers between High-A Clearwater and High-A Dunedin. He's got plus speed but is still learning how to steal bases and really needs to learn how to control the strike zone, walking just 45 times against 132 strikeouts. The fact that he held his own in the Florida State League with that batting eye as a 19-year-old bodes well if he can turn his athletic skills into baseball skills.

2010

The Phillies drafted Gose out of high school in the second round of the 2008 draft. Gose has outstanding speed as his 76 stolen bases last season suggest but he also is relying on his raw talent as he was caught stealing 20 times, suggesting he can do some work on getting reads off the pitcher. At the plate, Gose strikes out too much and doesn't walk enough. He'll need to improve in both areas has time given he is only 19-years-old.